Three Merseyside Police officers have been officially commended for extraordinary bravery after confronting a knife-wielding attacker during a horrifying mass stabbing at a children’s Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.
Sergeant Gregory Gillespie, PC Luke Holden, and %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_0%% Timothy Parry were the first responders at the scene of the brutal July 29, 2024 attack, where three young girls were tragically killed.
The incident unfolded at The Hart Space on Hart %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%% — a local community hub and pregnancy care centre — during what was meant to be a fun holiday dance event for children. Instead, the event turned into one of the worst mass %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_2%% history.
The attacker, Axel Rudakubana, then 17, from Banks in %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_4%%, was found wielding a large knife inside the building when officers arrived. Without knowing the scale of the carnage inside, the trio %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_5%% — PS Gillespie armed with a baton, PC Holden with a Taser, and PCSO Parry securing the exit.
The officers %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_6%% of the stairs. He dropped the knife, but %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_7%% him.
Rudakubana later admitted to 16 charges including three counts of murder, and was sentenced to life with a minimum of 52 years at %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_8%% in January 2025. His %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_9%% as Elsie Stancombe, Alice De Silva Aguiar, and Bebe King.
The officers have been nominated for the National %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_10%% Bravery Awards, where their heroic actions will be formally recognised on July 10.
A spokesperson for %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_11%% Police said:
"We are so proud of Sgt Gillespie, PC Holden and PCSO Parry for their courage, professionalism and swift actions in such horrendous circumstances."
A vigil held outside %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_12%% drew hundreds of mourners from the community, united in grief.
